The Ultimedia GNU/Linux Project (codename: UltimediaOS)

What is UltimediaOS...?!

Ultimedia GNU/Linux is an open Source project, that currently is a fork of Debian squeeze 6.x. It was started in the year 2008 and is currently only installable with debootrap 1.0.27+blade1. (Debootstrap is Debian compatible too, if unsure what files are updated you could use a diff programm.) Linux is full openSource, redistributable and provides the best multimedia integration for the todays PC systems. This reason makes Debian GNU/Linux the number one Operating System for the Ultimedia Project (wherever it leads to). The first Ultimedia Linux where build on a simple LFS Linux and implemented the APT package manager to install only modified binary packages. A problem was the modification of the Debian Package Sources, which was nearly impossible in the LFS environement without unmodified buildtools. After many experience times we've had with LFS Linux, we started to discuss a possible fork of a Debian distribution.

Debian has important advantages, one of them is the wide range of distributed software packages and the collected work of the Debian Developer Teams (praise them for there hardest work ;] ). Since that Debian Squeeze was released we've started with the forking process as a base for a possible Ultimedia GNU/Linux. The primary architecture should focus on i386 and amd64 architectures and a limited set of distributed packages. Because of limited space, we are not able to provide each package or window manager like the Debian or Ubuntu Project does. All packages you download from us are full Debian compliant packages but may use modified configurations, versions and brandings.

Another Distribution?

Yes, you read right, another small Linux Distribution. This has some reasons. Debian goes the way that you might have to configure all for yourself. They provide a wide range of software, but in most cases, if you want to use a userdefined environment, you have to tweak Debian. UltimediaOS should provide some multimedia tweaks based on GNOME and Compiz.

The primary goals of UltimediaOS...!

• More multimedia features and packages as a standard
• Common mime-type resolution for files (resolve mime-type and let users automatic install plugins)
• Implementation of PHP5 as a standard scripting language
• Implementation of PHP Central (A PHP Class Management for UltimediaOS and UltimediaForge)
• Future implementation: Make Gnome3 the standard Window Manager
• Future implementation: Gnome3 features and enhancments
• Compiz integration and enhancements, like compiz-fusion
• Software-Center like website with app market
• Install Image using a modified version based on the Debian installer.
• ... and what are your ideas ?

What else we want to share...?

During the time of development we've studied the Debian archive structure and noticed many advantages for developers and also for the community. This leads to many ideas and enhancements we now primary focus on. Here is a list of services we try to build and working out for developers and the Ultimedia Webproject.

Some website related features ...

• Registration for Developer Projects
• Developer Team websites
• Project issue tracking
• Mailinglist for Developer Teams
• VersionControl features
• Automatic build tools for the new infrastructure (background web services)
• RSS feeds for Developer Teams
• Distributed Package Database

Contribute the UltimediaOS GNU/Linux Project

If you are intrested to join the Ultimedia System Developers and be part of a new Linux Distribution, maybe you are capable on one of the following ...

• Debian Package Developer
• Source Code Maintainer
• Developer in any programming language
• Version Control Manager (for subversion and git repositories)
• Website Partner
• Web Development
• Issue Tracking

The registration as contributor is coming soon, during the meantime you can write to: contribute <[alt]+Q> ultimediaos.com